Sloper



w. v. Vcor-:NETT I 2,253,265

SLOPER Aug. 19, 1941.

Filed Aug. 30, 19?' INVENTOR.

Wam-se EDRA/57'? ATTOmnrvS Patented Aug. r19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A SLOPER Walter V. Cornett, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application August 30, 1939, Serial No. 292,579 (C1. 214-102) 8` Claims.

This invention relates to machines commonly called slopers and-has for its `object the production of asimple and eiicient sloper readily adjust-able to various types -of work and easily manipulated to rapidly perform the same.

Another object is to produce such a machine by providing relativelyinexpensive attachments that may be readily iitted to the usual excavating shovel.

A further Objectis to provide a machine of the class described particularly suited to remove earth from yvertical banks such as are often encountered inroad building and the like.

Other objects and advantages will more fully hereinafter appear.

The following specification and drawing disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of illustration and Figure 1 is aside elevation of asloper embodying the invention;

Figure `2 is a side elevation similar toFgure 1 but with `the bucket shown in a `position midway between the inner and outer rails;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3, 3 of `Figurel. .i Y i .i

The numeral I denotes a supporting boom such `as the usual boom of an 4ordinary shovel rig, whichboom -supports the usual shovel stick or sticks I I carrying the usual shovel or scoop I2 having a plurality of teeth I3 each held by pin I3a to the bucket along its nose. Means (not shown) is provided whereby the operator may move the shovel stick I I and shovel I2 relative to the boom I0, and elevate, depress and swing the latter. As such means and the manner of operating such shovels are well known they will not be here described in detail as all these parts may be of any known type and construction provided Ithat they may be operated to position and operate the special parts to be presently described.

Obviously an ordinary shovel such as just vdescribed must operate in` an arc about the point Where the stick II is attached to the boom. While it is possible by skillful operation to cause such a shovel to travel along a vertical path, such for example as the outer face I4 of a dirt cut, such an operation is difficult to perform requiring as it does the simultaneous operation of both the hoist line I5 of the shovel as well as the manlpulationof stick II. Furthermore the path of vertical travel of the bucket is very limited. The result is that such shovels are seldom used to cut a smooth vertical face on a out, their use being conned to the rough excaVating, the iinal nishing and shaping being accomplished by other means.

The present invention enables such ashovel to be easily converted into a machine that willsuccessfully handle such work as just described. But while the invention is here described as forming such an attachment it ,will be understood that it can be carried out asa complete machine per se.

' A hollow casting I6 forming a socket member is provided to fit over one or more of the teeth I3, and may be` attached tothe tooth in any suitable manner such as by welding. As every shovel is equipped With spare teeth, the usual practice is to weld a tooth lt'and` casting I6 together and then secure .them via pin I3a. to the bucket. The casting I6 is mounted to turn on the pin I6a held in the bracket I1 .secured to the rear rail IB in any suitable` manner. This rear rail I8 is an `ordinary I beam and is secured to .a front rail I9 by welding or the like to form a double track run-way to be presently described.

2Il`is a pulley suitably mounted in bracket 2l on the` outer end, of the boom I0. Bracket 2I is secured to `bracket 22 by a pin 2m.. A bar pin 23 rigidly secures the bracket 22 to an adjustable member 24 which may be `attached in any suitable manner `at any point along the outer surface of rail I8.

A bucket 25 has side frames 26 carrying rollers 21 adapted `to roll in the tracks 28, 29 formed by the Vflanges of the beams I8,` I9. The center flanges 30 are cut away as shown at 3l, 32and these openings are provided with spring-pressed or gravity operated flaps or ,doors 33, 34 which permit the passage of the bucket assembly 26, 21 therethrough as presently described.

These doors 33, 34 are so shaped and positioned that when closed, they form with the flanges of I8, I9, a smooth uninterrupted surface for the rollers 21, 21a of the bucket to run against in the up and down travel of the bucket 25.

The outer track 29 has a guide member 35 at the top as shown to guide the bucket rollers 21 into the rear track 28, and the rear track has a guide member 36 at the bottom to guide the bucket rollers into the front track 29.

The hoist line I5 is carried over a pulley 31, at the top of the track member or guide comprised of the beams I8, I9 and the outer end of the line is connected as shown at 38 to the bucket 25 which may have the usual teeth 39 and a dumping door 40.

In operation, it will now be seen that by properly manipulating the controls for the boom I and shovel I2, the track members I8, I9 may be positioned at any angle relative to the face I4 of the work.

Assuming that I4 is to be a smooth vertical cut, the track members are positioned as shown in Figure l.

The bucket 25 starts at the bottom and as it is pulled upwardly by hoist line I5 (Which may be wound up by the shovel drum) the teeth 39 of the bucket 25 will smoothly cut the face of I4.

When bucket 25 reaches the upper end of the track, the rollers 2l of same encounter the member 35 and pushing open the door 33, the rollers 2'I pass through the opening SI. At this point bucket 25 has its teeth 39 withdrawn from the Work I and is in the position shown at T, Figure 2.

As soon as the bottom rollers 21a have passed through opening 31 the door 33 closes and now, as the hoist line I5 slackens the bucket 25 drops down track 28 as shown in dotted lines Figure 1. If necessary the track member is backed off the work I4 suiiiciently to permit the bucket to fall.

Upon reaching the bottom of this track, the rollers 27a encounter the member 35 and are steered through opening 32 (pushing open door 34). At this point the bucket is in the position shown at B, Figure 2.

As soon as the rollers 2 have passed through the door 34 it closes and now, as the hoist line I5 is tightened (and if necessary the track member is advanced to the work Iii) the operation just described is repeated.

The door Ill of the bucket may be opened by a pull-cord 4I and the dirt allowed to fall on the ground from which it can be removed in any manner; or the bucket can be discharged at any desired point in its travel into a suitable conduit 42 whereby the dirt is conveyed directly into a truck to be hauled away.

Obviously, the rear track 28 and the doors 33, 345 can be omitted, and the bucket 25 given a simple up-and-down motion in the single track 29; this and other changes can be made Without however departing from the spirit of the invention as herein described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a. pair of vertically disposed track members, means for moving said members including a boom, means including a shovel stick for holding said track in working position, a bucket, means for guiding said bucket to travel upwardly in one of said track members, means for diverting said bucket to the second of said track members and wherein said bucket may travel downwardly, means for returning said bucket from said last track to said rst track and means for moving said bucket in both tracks.

2. In a machine of the class described, a pair of guide rails forming tracks and having center flanges cut away to form openings, doors for said openings, a bucket, means for moving said bucket through said openings and closing said doors thereafter whereby said bucket may pass cyclical. ly over said tracks, means for moving said guide rails including a boom adapted to support the same, and means carried by said boom including a shovel stick for holding said guide rails in working position.

3. In a machine of the class described, a track member, means for positioning said track member in working position including a boom, means including a shovel stick for holding said member in working position, a bucket adapted to reciprocate along said track member in two separate paths connected only at, their extremities and means for moving said bucket.

4. In combination with an excavating shovel having a boom and a shovel scoop carried thereby, a track connected to said boom and scoop and adapted to be positioned by the movement of both said members, a bucket adapted to be moved along said track, and means for moving said bucket.

5. In combination with an excavating shovel having a boom and a shovel scoop carried thereby, a tooth on said scoop, a member adapted to engage said tooth and be secured thereto, a track secured to said boom and said member, a bucket supported on said track, and means for moving said bucket.

6. In combination with an excavating shovel having a boom and a shovel scoop carried thereby, a track member pivotally attached to said boom and scoop whereby said track may be held in rigid operating position at various angles relative to said boom, a bucket mounted on said track, and means for moving said bucket therealong.

7. Attachments for excavating machines cornprising a track member, means for pivotally attaching said member to a boom and to a shovel stick carried by said boom, and a bucket adapted to be moved along said member and wholly supported thereby.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means for pivotally attaching the track member includes a socket member adapted to fit over the tooth of an excavating shovel.

WALTER V. CORNETT. 

